THINGS are looking up for two firms who have taken on a combined 34 new staff this month.

Claims Consortium, which supports the UK insurance industry by providing claims management and technology solutions from its Culmhead base, is recruiting 31 employees.

The company has now seen its workforce rise from 140 to 235 since August last year.

Chief executive Jeremy Hyams, says the sustainable growth is in line with the expectations of the company’s senior leadership team, which has experience in managing this type of expansion.

He said: “We are delighted to have achieved record turnover and profit since starting the business in 1996, which is in part due to our innovations in IT.

“Our new software platform called Synergy is revolutionising the way insurance claims are handled, and we’ve won several major contracts this year with our new technology solutions at their heart.”

MK Test Systems, leaders in automatic electrical testing solutions for aerospace, defence and rail transportation, is boosting its engineering team with three new posts following a 40% growth this year.

The posts are rurally based at MK’s offices at Chelston, near Wellington.

Managing director Carl Bullock said: “As MK’s products and services are increasingly in demand, our highly skilled employees are essential to continuing to deliver a high quality service for our customers, both new and existing.

“We are pleased to be able to offer these opportunities that will help the company develop and continue to grow. Now we move onto the next phase of our expansion.”